Flourish Africa, a women-focused empowerment initiative founded by Apostle Folorunsho Alakija, has awarded N300 million in grants to women entrepreneurs across Nigeria, following a rigorous national training and business pitch process.
The announcement was made at the organisation’s ninth annual conference in Lagos, held under the theme “She Champions,” which brought together entrepreneurs, regulators, development partners, and private-sector leaders.
The grants were disbursed under the fourth cycle of the Flourish Africa Grants Programme. A total of 506 women entrepreneurs underwent intensive business training, of whom 409 submitted business plans. Two hundred advanced to the pitch stage, and 100 businesses were ultimately selected to receive N3 million each after evaluation by an independent panel of judges.
Alakija said the programme’s structure was designed to emphasise merit, preparedness, and accountability. “Out of 506 women trained, only 100 emerged for funding. That discipline matters because access to capital must be matched with capacity, structure, and accountability if businesses are to survive and scale,” she said in a statement.
Flourish Africa noted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of female entrepreneurship globally, yet many women-owned businesses struggle to access formal finance and growth opportunities. The programme seeks to bridge this gap by combining skills development with practical exposure to investment and governance standards.
The selected businesses span sectors including manufacturing, agribusiness, food processing, fashion, beauty, and services. Judges reported improvements in presentation quality, clarity of business models, and market articulation among participants compared with previous cohorts, while also highlighting the need for deeper financial literacy.
Beyond funding, the programme emphasises business governance, record-keeping, and scalability to prepare participants for engagement with lenders, investors, and institutional markets.
Alakija added, “Women are already driving Nigeria’s informal and small-business economy. What Flourish Africa is doing is formalising that strength by equipping women with skills, governance, and funding. When women succeed in business, they reinvest in their families and communities, creating a multiplier effect that drives inclusive economic growth.”
Each beneficiary of the programme received N3 million, as initiatives like this continue to support sustainable women-led enterprises, job creation, and local economic development nationwide.
